Fog signaling apparatus.



No. 882,039. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908. T. L. WILLSON.

FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8 1907.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

INVENTOR T. L .WILLSON.

PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908 T. L. WILLSON.

FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8,1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z 3 Fig. 9. 4 J

E 4 Q li a WITNESSES. INVENTDR. W 'LLJWILLSDN- PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.T. L. WILLSON. FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8.1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTUB. T.L.WILL8ONZ WITNESSES MW? ATTY.

THOMAS LEOPOLD WILLSON, OF OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA.

FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed June 8, 1907. Serial No. 377,980.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, 'liIoMAs LICOIOLI) WILLSON, of the city of Ottawa,in the county of Carleton, Province of Ontario, Canada, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Fog Signaling Apparatus, of whichthe following is a specification.

IMy invention relates to improvements in fog signaling apparatus, andthe objects of my invention are to .provide a simple and ellicient formof fog signaling apparatus for lightships, buoys, submarine bells, orother location on land or sea, which will operate continuously withoutattention for long periods of time and with a minimum cost foroperation.

Fog signaling apparatus, as at present constructed, depends [oroperation, either on the Wave motion communicated to the apparatusthrough the medium of a buoy, or on a mechanical motor, such a steam orgas engine, which either operates to produce the signal itself, orcontrols the admission oi the sound-producing medium to the signalingapparatus. Those depending on the wave motion have the disadvantage thatthey are silent in a caln'i sea, while those operated or controlled by amechanical motor are generally costly in construction and requireconstant attention and repair to keep inoperation. I

My invention overcomes the defects of both these types of apparatus andprovides a continuously and automatically operating signal which maybeplaced in any location on land or sea and which is directly operated bythe periodic explosion 01 a suitable explosive mixture.

In a preferable form, a bell is rung through the medium of a projectiledischarged against it by the force of the explosion. in thealternativeform, the bell is replaced by a megaphone, or othersound-intensitying devicewhich accentuates the noise of the explosion.

An embodiment of the invention 's illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in

which,

Figure 1 is a side view partially in section of the apparatus embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2, Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectionalview of the needle controlling valve. 5 is a central vertical sectionthrough the appas ratus used to alternately turn the supply of explosivefluid oil and on for predetermined periods of time. Fig. 6 is asectional detail along the line 4 4, Fig. 5. Fig. -7 is a top view ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of theinterior mechanism ol' the device shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a sectionaldetail of the means for mixing air with the explosive lluid. Fig. 10illustrates my invention as applied to a combined bell and lightingbuoy. Fig. 11 is a vertical section showing a modified form of theinvention. Fig. 12 is a vertical section illustrating an alternativeform of the invention.

1 lathe drawings, like letters and figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts in each figure.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figs.- 1 to f), A representsa bell, suitably supported, below which is the explosion chamber Bconnected by suitable conducting piping u with the supply of explosivelluid. inserted in the conducting ipe (L are a gas pressure rcgulator C,a necd e controlling valve l a device l) for alternately turning thesupply of explosive oil and on, and a device E for mixingi air with theexplosive lluid. The explosion chamber B is preferably in the form of aninverted cone, having the inlet port 2 at the constricted bottom thereofand the o 'utlet port b in the top of a diameter nearly equal to that ofthe top ol the chamber itself. On the exterior of the top of theexplosion chamber, opposite the port I), a valve seat 0 is formed inwhich a striker (shown here as a ball F), or other lorm of projectile,seats, the said ball being of such weight that it will be raiscdo-fl'its seat by the force of an explosion within the chamber and bedischarged against the bell. To guide the ball F when discharged, .lprovide a tubular extension (Z on the explosion chamber, having an innerdiameter sul'istantially equal to that of the ball.- Means are providedto enable the products of combustion to escape as soon as the ball hasmoved a determined distance, the. means I have shown being channelsformed in the upper 'part of the tubular extension adapted to permit theescape of the products of combustion, around the ball, as soon as it haspassed the lower portion 0.

Suitable means are provided for igniting the mixture within the chamber,preferably being automatically operated by the passage of gas throughthe chamber. The means I have invented to accomplish this comprise adischarges into a chamber 7' having gas burner G disposed near the ouletof a explosive mixture may thoroughly com- 1 mingle,

prior to their passage through the pigipg a into the explosion chamberB.

hen the apparatus is used in locations exposed to the weather, it Willbe necessary to surround the burner G and device E with suitableprotecting casings h and 23.

The device D for alternately turning oil and on the supply of explosivefluid and which thus serves to prevent firing back, as hereinafterdescribed, may be any of the various types-of similar apparatus employedwith intermittently burning or flashing gas lights. That which I haveillustrated, and which, for the sake of clearness, I will now describe,consists of a casing H formed with an upper 1part m and a base n, whichis provided wit an inlet port 0 and an outlet port p, which communicaterespectively with conduits g and 1', formed integral with the base andto which is connected the conducting P p 1 The passage of the explosivemedium, ordinarily gas, through the inlet and outletports, is controlledby valve disks 8 and t,

' supported on the extremities of a lever u centrally pivoted toaprojecting lug v on the base. The tilting of this lever 14 isautomatically controlled by the passage of the gas into the casing, itsregulation being such that when a certain amount of gas has passed intothe casing, the inlet port will be automatically closed and the outletport opened, and then again, when this gas has assed out, the

- outlet port will be closed an I the inlet port opened. The means Ishow to accomplish s, comprise a lever w pivoted to a standard so formedintegral with the base, the opposite end of the lever ha ving pivotedthereto, a U-shaped de endent spring member y having arms 7 an 8,adapted to reciprocate in tracks 5 and 6, which are secured 'to andupwardly extend from the base. The ex tremitiesof the arms 7 and 8 ofthe-spring member are connected to the lever it near the end thereof bymeans of toggle wires 9 and 10, the length of each of which is slightlygreater than the distancebetween the arms will cause the gas to and thelever, whereby they will always tend to assume an inclined position,relatively to each other. By this means, when the endof l the lever 11;is raised, the lever u will not be moved until the points of attachmentof the Wires 9 and 10 to the arms 7 and 8 have asscd above the oints ofattachment to the ever u, when the ever 11, will operate quickly.diaphragm 12 pressed toward its lowest position b a suitable spring 13and connected by a bolt 14, or other connecting means with the lever w.The tension of the spring 13 is regulated by a screw 15 extendingthrough the top of the casing, whereby the pressure at which thediaphragm will operate, is controlled.

In operation, the gas passes into the casing, raising the flexiblediaphragm l2 and the lever 10. As soon as the lever w has been raisedsufficiently to move the extremities of the wires 9and 10 above thepoints of at tachment to the lever u the spring member will operate toreverse the position of the toggle wires and so depress the end of the.lever a, closing the inlet port and opening the outlet port. Thisenables the gas topass out by its own expansion, and proceed on its wayto the explosion chamber. out, the diaphragm 12, under the actlon of thespring, lowers, lowering the lever to, which, lowering the extremitiesof the toggle wires, will cause the spring member to oper' ate themin areverse manner to open the inlet port and close the outlet port. Thisass to the air mixing device E in puffs, which will result in alter- Asthe gas passes nate pulis of pure air, and mixed air and gas which willpass in succession through the piping a into the explosion chamber. Thusany firing back in the piping is prevented by the puffs or plugs of ureair intervening between the puffs or p ugs of the explosive mixture ofair andgas. The amount of the pressure of the gas fed into the device Dis con. trolled by a needle valve P, or other suitable device. Thatillustrated comprises a casing 24 having a conical seat 25 therein,against which the conical end 26 of the screw 27 extending through thecasing is ada ted to fit. The pressure of the gas is contro ed by theamount of space between the end of the screw and the seat. The flow ofgas is rendered uniform in character by a suitable gas pressureregulator O of any suitable form which, being well known in the art,need not be here described.

In the operation of the device, the burner G is kept burningcontinuously, and the xplosive fluid, Whichis preferably the same gas'as is supplied to the burner G, is passed through the pressureregulator C and needle nozzle "i, whence it draws the air in through theports 7c and passest hroughthe combining tube Z and conducting piping'ainto the bottom of the explosion chamber. Here, as the supply iscontinued, tlte explosive mix ture of as and air rises gradually to thetop of the c amber, where a small portion of it Jasses out through thepassageway g, and being ignited by the flame of the burner G,communicates the ignition to the explosive mixture now filling thechamber B. This causes an explosion of the same, which lifts 'the ball Foff its seat and discharges it with great force against the bell Aringing the same. I

It will be observed that the force of the explosion is intensified bythe construction .of the tubular extension d ,which prevents any of thegas escaping until the ball has moved passed the beginning of thechannels f. After the explosion the passageway g, as well as the chamberitself, are cleared by the products of combustion passing out. But thespent gases pass out with the refillin of the chamber, and, as the ballinstantly falls back after the explosion and stroke it falls upon thegases which are still in the chamber and passageway for the ball, sothat the ball is cushioned 'by the gases contained in the chamber andpassage. The explosion having taken place, back firing of the device Eis prevented by the device D, causing alternate puffs of air andexplosive mixture to pass through the piping (I, and before anotherexplosion takes place, the explosion chamber B must be again graduallyfilled from the bottom, when the action will be again repeated.

It is evident that the periodicity of the explosion is controlled by thespeed with which the explosive mixture is forced into the chamber andthis will depend on the pressure of the gas itself, and hence, byregulating the needle valve, the periodicity of the explosion may becontrolled. The periodicity is also to a certain extent, inlluenced bythe size of the passage-way g, as the products of combustion from oneexplosion, must be cleared out of this, before the next can take place.

Referring to the application of the device to gas buoys, as illustratedin Fig. 10, l is the float chamber of the buoy, which supports the gasgenerator tube J, from the top of which the conducting pipe 16 leads tothe lamp K, supported in a suitable frame L. A suitable bell M is alsosupported on the frame, below which the explosion chamber B is arranged,together with the remaining parts of my apparatus as hereinbeforedescribed. Branch conducting pipes 17 and ply the gas burner G and theexplosion chamber respectively.

In the modified form illustrated in Fi 1 1, the port 1) in the top ofthe explosion cl amber is closed by a plate 19 connected to the lever20' pivoted to the projection 21 on the side of the explosion chamber.In this modification the striker is in the form of an arm 22 whichextends from the plate 19 and thus, when an explosion occurs within thechamber, the plate will be raised, swinging on the pivoted arm 20 andcausing the striker 22 to hit the bell. In the alternative formillustrated inFig. 12, the port I) has deadening sound on the bell suchas is difficult to avoid in the ordinary bell clapper. The products ofcombustion passing freely out, clear the chamber and outlet passagewaystherein.

lt will be observed that my-mode of operation dill'ers entirely fromthat hitherto employed, in which the explosive mixture was compressed ina chamber and then exploded,

since the mixture is not compressed but flows freely through the chamberat substantially atmospheric pressure.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described herein withgreat particularity of detail, yet it will be readily understood that incarrying out the construction of the same, changes within the scopeof'the appended claims, may be made, without departing from the spiritof the invention What 1 claim as my invention 1s:. 1 l. A signalingapparatus including a striker, a sounding device operated thereby and anexplosion device directly operating the striker.

2. A signaling device including a vibratory sound producing means, anexplosion device operating intermittently at atmospheric pressure, andmeans for directly ap plying the force of the explosions to vibrate thesound producing means. 7

3. A signaling apparatus including a striker, a sounding device operatedthereby, means for producing explosions of gas at atmospheric pressure,and means for applying theforce of the explosions to operate thestriker.

18 ad from-the conducting pipe 16 to supl 4. A signaling apparatus,including a hell,

&.

a projectile means for creating an explosion, means for applying theforce of the ex losion to direct the rojectile against the bel 5. Asigna ing apparatus including in combination, means for producing anexplosive mixture, means for igniting said mixture at substantiallyatmospheric ressure to produce an explosion and signa ing means oper*ated by the explosion.

6. A signaling apparatus including incombination, an explosion chamberhaving permanent communication with the open air, means for introducingan explosive mixture .into the chamber, means for igniting the mixturein the chamber, and signaling means operated by an explosion within thechamber.

7 A signalin apparatus including in combination an exp OSlOIl chamb'erhaving a permanently open port, means for introducing an explosivemixture at substantially atmospheric pressure into I the chamber, a gasburner exterior to the chamber adjacent to the port therein, adapted to(ignite the mixture through the ort and signaling means operated by anexp osion within the chamber. 8. The combination with a gas containingbuo'y, of a sounding device, a striker therefor, and an explosion devicedirectly operatin the striker and adapted to be operated by the gascarried by the buoy.

9. The combination with a buoy, and ga generating means thereon, ofmeans for periy matically operatingto positively and odically producingexplosions of a portion of said gas, and signaling means operated by theforce. of the explosions.

10. The combination with a bell, of a projectile and an explodingapparatus autoer1- odicall impel the projectile against the ell.

11. he combination with a bell, of a pro jectile, an exploding ap aratusautomatically o erating to positive y and periodically impel t e sameagainst the bell, and means for'varying the periodicity of thedischarge.

- 12. A signaling apparatus, including in combination, a bell, anexplosion chamber, means for intermittently producing an explosiontherein, and bell ringing means operated by the force of the explosion.v p

13. A signaling apparatus, including in .combination, a bell, anexplosion chamber,

15. A signaling apparatus including incombination, [a bell, an explosionchamber having an outlet port therein, a gravity seated ball closing t eoutlet port but adapted to be impelled by an explosion therein,

a tubular extension on the chamber adapted to direct the ball againstthe bell, the inner diameter of the tubular extension beingsubstantially equal to that of the ball and means on the upper part ofthe extension for permitting the escape of the products of the explosionafter the ball has traveled a determined distance, and, means forintermit tently creating an explosion within the chamber. r

17 A signaling apparatus including in combination, a bell, an explosionchamber, having an outlet port therein, a valve seat formed on the outerside of the outlet port, a ball in the valve seat ada; ted to beimpelled by an explosion within t e chamber, means for directing theball against the bell, andmeans for intermittently creating an explosionwithin the chamber.

18. A signaling apparatus including in combination, a bell, an explosionchamber having an outlet port therein, a gravity seated projectilenormally closing the outlet port but adapted to be impelled by anexplosion within the. chamber, and means. for preventing the escape ofthe products of the explosion until the projectile has moved apredetermined distance, and means for creat-- ing an explosion withinthe chamber.

19. A signaling apparatus including in combination, an explosionchamber, means for introducing an explosive mixture near the bottomthereof, and igniting means at the pper part of the'chamber adapted toexu p ode the mixture when it rises to the said upper part and signalingmeans operated by an explosion Within the chamber.

20. A signaling apparatus including in combination, anexplosion chamber,a supply pipe entering the same near the bottom thereof, means formixing air with the explo-.

sive fluid during passage through the pipe, igniting means on the upperpart of the chamber adapted to explode the mixture when it risesthereto, and means for preventing firing back after an explosion andsignaling means operated by an explosion within the chamber. I

21; 'A signaling apparatus including in' combination, an explosionchamber, piping leading thereto, means foralternately passing throughthe piping, putl's of air and mixed air and gas, and igniting means atthe upper part of the chamber adapted to explode the mixture when itrises thereto and signaling means operated by an explosion within thechamber.

22. A signaling apparatus including in combination, an explosionchamber, a gas supply pipe therefor, means in said pipe for mixing airwith the gas during passage therethrough, means for automaticallyturning the gas off and on for predetermined periods of time, ignitingmeans disposed exterior to the chamber and means placing the same incommunication with the interior of the chamber, signaling means operatedby an explosion within the chamber.

23. A signaling apparatus including in combination, a chamber having anopening therein, means for passing an explosive mixture into thechamber, igniting means coacting with the chamber for periodicallyexploding the mixture while in the chamber, closing means for theopening in the chamber adapted" to be moved outwardly by an explosionwithin the chamber and a sound.-

ing device operated by the outward move ment of the closing means.

24'. A signaling apparatus including in combination, an explosionchamber having an opening therein, outwardly movable closing means forthe said opening, normally gravity heldin closed position but adapted tobe moved outwardly by an explosion within the chamber, means forcreating an explosion within the chamber and a sounding de- -viceoperated by the closing means in its outward movement.

25. A signaling apparatus including in combination, an explosion chamberhaving an opening therein, means for creating an explosion in thechamber, closing means for the openin adapted to be moved outwardly byan exp osion within the chamber, and a hell adapted to be rung by theclosing means in its outward movement.

26. A signaling apparatus including in combination,- an explosionchamber, means for introducing an explosive mixture thereinto. andigniting ITI2LI1S external to the chamber, the. said chamber having aconducting passageway permanently open and adapted to affordcommunication between the mixture within the chamber and the ig nitingmeans and signaling means operated by an explosion within the chamber.

27. A signaling apparatus including in combination, an explosion chamberhaving a permanently open inlet port at the bottom and an outlet port atthe top, means for in troducing an explosive mixture through the inletport, and igniting means external to the chamber, the said chamberhaving a con ducting passage-way at the top thereof, adapted to affordcommunication between the mixture within the chamber and the igniting11108118, and signaling means operated by an explosion through theoutlet port.

A signaling apparatus comprising a gradually enlarging explosionchamber, an inlet port near the smaller end thereof, an outlet port atthe larger end, closing means at. the outlet port adapted to bedisplaced by an explosion within the chamber, means for introducing amixture within the chamber, means for exploding the mixture, andsignaling means operated by the displacement ol the closing means.

29-. A signaling apparatus comprising an explosion chamber having theinterior thereof substantially in the form of an inverted cone, with aninlet port at the bottom and an outlet port at the top of nearly equaldiameter with the large diameter of the cone, closing means for theoutlet port adapted to be displaced by an explosion within the chamber,means for exploding the mixture and signaling means operated by thedisplacement of the closing means.

30. in combination with an explosion device, and signal operatedthereby, of means lor su plying to the explosion device combustible andnot1-combustiblc fluids in alternale succession.

31. in combination with an explosion de vice and signal operatedthereby, ol a feed conduit for the explosion device and means foralternately providing in said conduit combustible and noil-combustiblelluids.

3'3. in combination with an explosion device and signal operatedthereby, ol' aleed conduit for the explosion device, means for passing acombustible lluid intermittently through said conduit and means fordrawing air into said conduitby the passage of said lluid.

33. The combination with an explosion chamber of determined form havingigniting means 1103i one end tliereol,aml an inlet port near the otherend thereof, with a clear passage between, of means. for graduallyfeeding an explosive mixture by its own expension through the inlet portto the igniting means, and signaling means 'directly operated by theforce of the explosion.

34. The combination of the explosion device and projectile dischargedthereby, and of sounding means operated by the projectile whendischarged by said explosion device, said explosion device beingprovided with means for holding the gases to cushion the projectile onits return.

in a signaling apparatus and in combination, an explosion chamber, meansfor supplying by its own expansion an explosive fluid thereto, means forigniting said fluid when the chamber is substantially filled, andsignaling means actuated by an explosion oi the fluid.

36. A signaling apparatus including in combination, a vibratory soundproducing means, a projectile and automatically actuating means forperiodically and ositively impelling the projectile against t e soundproducing means.

37. The combination with a sounding;

device, of an ex losive device adapted to intermittently discharge theroducts of combustion, and a striker for t e sounding vince of Ontario,this 4th day of June, 1907.

THOMAS LEOPOLD WILLSON.

Witnesses 2 RUSSELL S. SMART, MARYS. LYON.

